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, and most have evolved tactics to overcome whatever the weather throws at them.After such a 'challenging' year I'm treating my lawn this autumn to a combined lawn feed and weed. Autumn fertilisers are available with just the right balance of nutrients

'Medium-flowered cactus dahlia, with sunny yellow flowers. Height 120cm.Dahlia 'Yellow Galator'Small-flowered semi-cactus type, with white-tipped pinky red petals. Height 60cm.Dahlia 'Pianella'More about using garden weedsTake dahlia cuttings Plant dahlia tubers

(Joe-pye weed)Useful websites for wildlife gardeningGardeners' World wildlife blogsMake a bee hotelMore plants for beesWildlife gardening tipsButterfly Conservation Trust

or germinate into weeds. Buying better quality food means healthier birds, less mess and fewer rodents.We're getting to that point in the year when energy-rich food makes all the difference to small birds surviving winter. There's much less natural food

and pods.Peas 'Half Pint'Radish seeds are fairly large, so they can be sown at the correct spacing, without the need to thin them out. They are ready to harvest within a few weeks, and just require a little hand-weeding and watering in dry weather

materials - dry, wet, soft and woody - otherwise they become slimy. Don't add nettle roots, unless your heap is very hot.Nettles on the compost heapMore about using garden weedsMake a nettle feed in a containerHow to feed your plantsMake a comfrey feed

to dig, spread a thick layer of compost, manure or composted green waste (like peat-free compost) over the soil surface. Worms will gradually work this in and the surface layer acts as a mulch to deter the germination of annual weeds.On the veg plot, I

, firm the soil, cover with black polythene or weed-suppressing fabric and top off with gravel to create a hard-standing area.Polytunnel kit from supplierCement for foundation tubes, if requiredHammersWooden blockAdjustable spanners

look.You can broadcast-sow your seeds within each patch, but straight drills are useful, too. Sowing in straight drills across the drift you've marked out means you can tell which are the flower seedlings (the ones in straight lines) and which are weeds

feeding; there’s no weeding or digging, so it is labour-saving.Exploit all your spaceGrow gorgeous globe artichokes or jerusalem artichokes for their height at the back of a perennial bed. Team edible flowers such as heartsease, borage and calendula